A Christmas Letter to Laurel and Savannah

Laurel started asking me when she was in the 5th grade about Santa.  You could tell that she really wanted to keep believing and I would always just say, "It's just a magical time of year!"  I didn't want to just bluntly say, "No, there is no Santa!"  "And now, all the magic is over for you!"  I found this letter a few years ago that another mother had written to her son.  She said it perfectly, so I saved the letter and copied it word for word.  Laurel loved the letter and was so happy that I told her like this, because nothing has changed, really.  It can still be magical.

Dear Laurel,
You asked a really good question, "Are Mom and Dad really Santa?"  We know that you want to know the answer, and we had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.
The answer is NO.  We are not Santa.  There is no one, single Santa.  We are the people who fill your stocking and choose and wrap the presents under the tree-just as our parents did for us, their parents did for them, and you will do for your kids someday.
This could never make any of us Santa, though.  Santa is lots and lots of people who keep the spirit of Christmas alive.  He lives in our hearts-not at the North Pole.  Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others.  What he does is teach children to believe in something they can't see or touch.  Throughout your life you will need this capacity to believe:  In yourself, in your family, in your friends, and in God.
You will be able to believe in things you can't measure or hold in your hands.
Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve:  He has help from all the people whose hearts he has filled with joy.
With full hearts, people like mommy and daddy take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.  So no, we are not Santa.
Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness.  We are on his team, and now you are too.  
We love you, and we always will.

Love, 
Mom and Dad

Savannah started asking questions during Christmas.  I asked her if she really wanted to now right now, or if she wanted to talk about it after Christmas.  She said, "let's just talk after Christmas!"  I gave her the letter after Christmas.  She loved learning this way also.  It's a little sad to me that they are growing up.  But they are on our team now! :)